EAST Kilbride’s Early Learning Centre is to bring down the shutters later this month – a move which could see eight staff lose their jobs.

The firm’s parent company, Mothercare, are closing all stand-alone store so only stores located within Mothercare outlets will remain.

It will come as another blow to East Kilbride Shopping Centre which has already lost a number of outlets in the past few weeks as struggling retail firms going into administration.

Stores which have closed include La Senza, D2 and Happy Feet Fish Spa and both Peacocks and Bonmarche are set to close following their parent company entering administration.

A spokeswoman for Mothercare told the News: “We can confirm the Early Learning Centre store in East Kilbride will close on February 22. The closure of this store is in line with our current portfolio plan.

“We hope this has not upset any customers and that they will continue to shop at our store at the Kingsgate Retail Park.

“I can also confirm that we are currently in consultation with eight colleagues in East Kilbride regarding the closure.”

The news of ELC closures comes after Mothercare announced disappointing sales results last year, with UK like-for-like sales down 9.6 per cent in the 12 weeks to October 1.

The firm announced the closure plan of 110 of its outlets in July, as it switched its focus from the high street to out-of-town superstores – but did not spell out the end of the ELC stores in their own right.

Staff at the East Kilbride store were told several weeks ago the store was to close and have now been given a final closing date of February 22.